In terms of the random initiative, I and my group love it. It adds suspense as well (as you point out) the ability to stage a come back … it is super important to play with the chance that you or your opponent will get a double turn upper most in your mind/strategy.

I’ve gone on and on about the random initiative so I won’t bore anyone any more with that, suffice to say I think once you plan for it (and it’s always possible to know when it can happen, if you’re going first you have to plan for it) I think it makes the game better. But ultimately whatever makes the game best to play for you is best.

I’ve tried a compromise with some people recently where once per game if your general is alive you can force yourself to go first in a turn if it would block a double turn, but your general can’t use a command ability, seems to work quite well.

Also worth bearing in mind that once your combat troops are in combat they attack in your enemies turn to, and their combat attacks are loads better than ranged troops combat attacks (and usually their ranged attacks to). But if I could add anything to AoS it’d be something to weaken shooting into and out of combat.

I understand from a tournament point of view not liking the random initiative and taking it out, but I like it and really prefer to only play that way. I just feel it adds another thing you have to think about and try to plan for. Tho I also really like Bolt Actions activation method, I feel its one of the best things about the game and have even tried it in small games of 40k. I’m not a competitive player I really enjoy narrative play so prob have a dif point of view on random activation rules. IMO one of the greaat things about AoS is how easy it is to change things you don’t like and I think it was meant that way. So I say change anything aslong as both players have a good time it doesn’t matter.

I wouldn’t say AoS its more Science Fiction than Fantasy as Sci-Fi usually has some base in science or speculative science even if its super far fetched but I can’t see the scientific base for anything in AoS. I could be wrong, I usually am but I think it falls more in fantasy with the magic and other supernatural elements.

About Malekith I think he became leader because it was found that all this time after all these years of civil war he was right, and was the rightful heir of the Phoenix throne as he was Aenarions Son. There was another huge war fought between the Elves were some High, Dark, Wood elves and even Tyrions brother Teclis sided with Malekith and other High, Dark Elves and even Malekiths mother Morathi sided with Tyrion who had taken up the sword of Khiane which kinda turned him crazy. Sorry its kinda confusing and there is alot more to it. If you ever get a chance the End TImes Khaine book is pretty good and worth checking out.

Yeah I love the new summoning rules. It reigned it in without nerfing it completely. I like it’s no longer free models, but their flexibility and versatility is still there. What’s so great is you don’t have to declare what is going to be summoned in your list, so you could summon whatever you want depending on what you are facing as long as you don’t exceed those allotted points. I just see with the new summoning that it’s still powerful and useful, but fair.

I love random initiative. People who hate it, hate it for the dreaded 2 turns of shooting, but you have to think ahead tactically with buffs, target priorities, positioning etc. There have been a few occasions where I was granted 2 consecutive turns of shooting, but it didn’t do as much because my opponent had the forethought to cast mystic shield instead of arcane bolts. I have a rule of thumb for it: if you went first in a turn, play defensively. If you went second in a turn, play aggressively. I feel it should not be removed for organized play, because it also prevents the always second or always first syndrome you get in 40k.

I just think you guys need to be careful with modifying the rules. You may be used to it with 40k, but this is not 40k. Ruling to measure from bases is one thing, but stuff like shooting in combat and random initiative are core parts of the game the changes things up so much. I would just caution this stuff especially when preparing for the LVO

Loving the new podcast! Bought myself some dwarfs b/c of TW:Warhammer which might have to be painted since the summer campaign looks like some legit fun. Also, considering using them as allies for the Sylvaneth with how awesome their new rules sound (Ironbark something something?).

I see the logic of those who like the random initiative, my biggest issue with it is that when I played games and lost the initiative (after having won it the previous turn) is that I no longer felt like an active participant of the game.

On shooting into and out of combat, it appears that shooting units cost more points… if this is indeed fact per the new General’s book then I have no problem with it – it is certainly more dramatic and movie like.

-Dracothian breathed life back into Sigmar because they have a mutual hatred against Chaos

-The main fighting between the gods during the Age of Chaos was over Slaanesh’s territory since s/he is missing

-Currently, Sigmar is trying to reunite the pantheon of gods. Teclis/Tirion are on their own schedule alongside Melorian to find the wailing souls of Aelves. Gorkamorka is just leading Waaaghs across the realms because “reasons”, Gorkamorka actually split and reform multiple times. When together, a great Waaagh! happens, but if they split, orruks fight amongst themselves. Nagash continues to be a dick and only wants to rule everything himself.

-There was a huge civil war during the Age of Chaos within Azyrheim, where Sigmar showed up in person and slew half of the citizens that rebelled. Just straight up murder.

Got a chance to read through the General’s Book while at the BAO this last weekend. One thing that really caught me was the section on Narrative games, where you generate your initial army from the tables provided – looked super fluffy and cool but was also a tight set of guidelines for each faction!

Also read the Meteor Strike Battleplan, I forget if it was Narrative Battleplan or Matched Play but it looked really fun… on the second turn one meteor drops randomly onto each sides half of the table, these then become objectives which are scored on each round – can’t wait to try that one out!